Figure toy



y 1941. c. L. BARTON 2,241,576

FIGURE TOY.

Filed March 20, 1940 I 4 I v W368 .ZJ5arZ0m V A v I I INVENTOR Bv W dEH5 Patented May 13, 1941 nnirso STATES PATENT OFFMIE FIGURE TOY CharlesL. Barton, Orange, N. J.

Application March 20, 1940, Serial No. 325,041

1 Claim.

This invention relates to figure toys, and its general object is toprovide a toy that includes a plurality of segments colored andassociated to simulate a snake and movably connected together in end toend relation by manually operated flexible means which can bemanipulated to cause the toy to move in a most realistic serpentinemanner, thus giving the appearance of a live snake and thereby bringingabout much amusement and fun.

A further object is to provide a toy of the character set forth, that issimple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremelyefficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended. claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the manner of manipulatingmy toy to a raised position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toy.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken therethrough.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Figure3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that the form oftoy shown includes a plurality of identical elongated substantially ovalshaped body and tail segments I and a head segment 2, the segments Ieach being of the same size and shape throughout the length of the bodyand tail portions, but they may be shaped so that the toy will taperinwardly toward its rear end in the same manner as a real snake, and allof the segments are colored to simulate a snake.

The head segment 2 is reduced toward its forward end and otherwiseshaped to simulate the head of a snake, as well as is notched as at 3 toprovide a mouth. Beads 4 Or other means are secured to the head tosimulate eyes and the rear end of the head segment is rounded. Both ofthe ends of the segments I are rounded and all the segments have flatunder surfaces so that the toy will normally lay without rolling on anysuitable flat surface such as a table top.

Each of the segments I is provided with three bores, two of which aredisposed laterally and below the longitudinal center thereof and inparallelism with each other, while the other bore is disposed above andinthe same verticalplane with the longitudinal center, as clearly shownin Figure 4. The segment 2 is likewise provided with three bores thatare disposed in converging relation with each other from the rear endthereof and open at the forward ends into the notch 3 in close proximityto each other, as best shown in Figure 5.

. All of the segments are connected together by flexible elements suchas strings 5, 6 and I, and the strings 5 and 6 extend through thelateral bores, while the string I extends through the up-v per bores.The segments I are slidably mounted on the strings, but the head section2 is preferably fixed thereto and for that purpose the forward end ofthe strings are connected to headed means 8 such as a nail or the like,that is driven within the section 2 centrally of the notch thereof, asbest shown in Figure 3. The strings are of a length to extend aconsiderable distance rearwardly of the rear end segment I and the rearends of the strings have finger rings 9 connected thereto.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing,particularly Figure 1, it is believed that the operation of my toy willbe obvious, but it might be mentioned that the toy is laid upon a flatsurface and pressure is applied to the rear end section I by the thumbor finger of one hand, as shown in Figure 1. The fingers of the otherhand are disposed through the rings and the strings are drawn taut fordisposing the ends of all of the sections in abutting engagement witheach other. When so disposed and the string 5 is pulled, the toy willmove to the right as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. When the string6 is pulled the toy will move toward the left as indicated by the arrowin that figure, and when the string I is pulled, the forward portion ofthe toy will rise, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 and clearlyshown in Figurel, with the result it will be seen that by alternatelypulling and releasing the strings the toy can be given a very realisticmovement similar to that of a snake.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedextending longitudinally therethrough, two of,

the bores oi the body and tail segments being disposed laterally andbelow the longitudinal center thereof and in parallelism with eachother, the other bore of the body and tail segments being arranged abovethe longitudinal center thereof and in the same vertical plane with thelongitudinal center, the head segment being notched to simulate a mouth,means mounted on the head segment to simulate eyes, the bores of thehead segment being disposed in converging relation from the rear endthereof to the notch, strings extending through the bores, means forsecuring the forward ends of the strings Within the notch for thestrings to hold all the segments in end to end relation, said stringsbeing of a length to extend a considerable distance rearwardly of therear end segment, and finger receiving rings connected to the rear endsof the strings for a1ter nately pulling and releasing the same to causethe major portion of the toy from the head end thereof to move laterallyand vertically when the tail end is held.

- CHARLES L. BARTON.

